Process of sinking caissons



Feb. 13, 1934. T. L. GREEN 1,946,579

PROCESS OF SINKING CAISSONS Filed May 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 Z4 5 7 v g9 v I: I g Z5 1 I Z5 JL 1L '1 M y '5 P 5 M a 9 /2 una 9 5 Z5 Z5 5 1 7 6 IHHIHIIII. 6 0 & Y \i\\ INVENTOR. Thomas L. reen.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 13, 1934 Uhli'i stares FAR QFFEE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to earth boring equipment and more particularly to a process of and apparatus for sinking and pulling caissons, casing, piles, coiier dams, tubing, foundation shells, hollow or solid piers, etc. into or out of the earth.

The principal object of my invention is to provide apparatus for sinking or pulling caissons or other extended members of the above character into or out of the earth by means of drawing or pulling downwardly or upwardly on the caissons and, since a gradual increase is required in the sinking or pulling force to continue downward or upward movement of a caisson, it is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus adapted for utilization of the weight of the earth taken from a caisson during a sinking or pulling process to supply this required increase in the sinking or pulling force.

In accomplishing these and other objects of my invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a casing being drawn into the earth with apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and shown in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the casing and sinking apparatus in section.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus and upper end of the casing, longitudinal beams being shown in cross section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a bearing head showing particularly my preferred method of connecting adjacent frame members thereof.

Fig. 5 illustrates a casing being drawn out of the earth with apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and shown in side elevation.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the apparatus and upper end of easing being pulled out of the earth, longitudinal beams being shown in cross section.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 and 2 designate spaced, parallel beams or sills, of I-beam or other suitable construction, resting on the ground surface 3 and located on opposite sides of a perpendicularly positioned casing 4 shown partly extended into the earth.

The longitudinal sills are tied together by a plurality of cross sills 5, 31, 32 and 33, preferably secured to the main sills as indicated by angle members 6 and bolts 7 to produce a rigid frame. Members 31, 32 and 33 are used only in the apparatus for the process of pulling caissons out of the earth. The cross members such as timbers 8 are placed transversely on the upper edge of the frame for supporting weights 9 in the form of receptacles or cans adapted to be loaded with earth or sand 10 which is preferably supplied from that taken out of the descending cylinder as later more fully described.

The sills, cross members and receptacles should be of sufiiciently large dimensions to supply enough weight to counteract the force or pull required at the beginning of a casing or caissonsinking process, and in the process of pulling caissons out of the earth the cans 9 are filled with earth 10 from the previous sinking process or filled from adjacent surface.

For the sinking process, in order to connect the weight to the upper end of a casing through the intermediary of suitable pulling equipment such as differential chain hoists 11, or any other pulling medium, a bearing head 12 is provided for engaging the upper end of a casing and preferably includes a head frame 13 formed of pairs of channels 14 and 15 connected by corner angles 16 riveted or otherwise secured, as shown at 17, to the channels and having lower ends 18 projecting below the lower edge of the head frame for a purpose presently described.

For the process of pulling caissons out of the earth, in order to connect the weight to the upper end of the casing to be pulled, gantry frame works are provided 29 and 30, preferably secured to cross members 31 and 32 which in turn are bolted to longitudinal Lbeams l and 2, with sheave 27 at the upper extremities, as shown in Fig. 5. This framework is stiffened by members 36 and 37 to produce a rigid structure. The head frame for the sinking process is reversed for the pulling process and bolted securely to annular angle 20.

Wire ropes over sheaves 2'7 engage the angle 16 through slot 24 by means of hook 34. Crane hoists 28 or other suitable pulling devices provide power for pulling casing out of the earth.

A cylindrical section 19, cooperating with the frame and fixed to an upper annular angle 20, adapted to be seated between the projecting ends of corner angles for guiding the cylindrical section, is provided at its lower end with a skirt 21 fixed thereto in any suitable manner, and having a depending portion projecting below the end of the section 19 for seating the upper end of a casing or the like.

In the pulling process skirts 21 and 35 are secured to sections 19 and easing 4 by means of bolts evenly spaced on the periphery.

It will be apparent in the sinking process, that the depending end of the skirt may be suitably connected to the casing if necessary as required in the pulling process, or that cooperating flange members may be provided on the section 19 and casing and bolted together, if preferred, for rigidly securing the head member to the casing.

The hoists 11 and 28 may be of any suitable type, as for example of the block and chain type illustrated in Fig. 1, or crane hoists as shown in Fig. 5, one hoist being required for each corner of the head frame.

In the sinking process a pair of hooks 22 and 23 are provided for respectively engaging an elongated opening 24 provided in the projecting end of a corresponding corner angle 16, and for attaching the lower end of a hoist to a chain 25 surrounding a main sill. In the pulling process hook 34 engages the same slot with the head reversed and hoists 28 provide power for pulling chain, wire or rope 26.

The process of sinking a casing with apparatus constructed as described would be as follows:

The first section of the casing to be lowered is positioned vertically or at any angle on the earths surface at the point where it is to be sunk. The ground framework, comprising the pair of main beams or sills arranged on opposite sides of the casing section, and the cross sills spacing the main sills, are then firmly bolted together to form a rigid support. Cross members 8 are next placed at suitable intervals on the framework to support the weight cans or receptacles.

It will be evident that the arrangement of the main and cross sills and the number of weight cans used is dependent upon general conditions such as the size of easing or caissons to be sunk, the character of the earths surface at the particular point of sinking, etc. However, the combined weight of the sills, cross members and receptacles should be suflicient to counteract the force required for starting the casing downwardly into the earth.

The cylindrical or cap section of the assembled bearing head is next mounted on the upper end of the casing section and is preferably bolted thereto, whereupon a differential hoist or other pulling medium is anchored to each corner angle of the head and is secured to one of the chains surrounding the main sills.

The hoists are then manipulated to exert an even pull on each of the four corners of the bearing head and the casing section begins to penetrate the earth.

After the casing section has been moved downwardly as far as the hoists will permit, the cap section is disconnected therefrom and a second casing section is interposed between the lower and cap sections and the sinking process is continued.

Earth or sand taken from the descending casing is transferred into the receptacle to supplement the weight of the ground framework, thus counteracting the increase in force required for continuing downward movement of the casing, although obviously sand, earth, or weights from other sources may be used for this purpose if the removed earth does not supply sufficient weight.

The process of pulling a caisson out of the earth with apparatus constructed as described would be as follows:

The cap section and head frame are securely bolted to the casing, and apparatus as shown in Fig. 5 is provided. The ground framework, cross members and weight cans are the same as for the sinking process. The number of weight cans and arrangement of main and cross sills are evidently dependent upon general conditions as for the sinking process. The hooks are then engaged to the cross head.

The hoists are then manipulated to exert an even pull on each of the four corners of the bearing head and the casing begins to draw out of the earth.

When the head piece reaches the sheaves, the cap section is disconnected, the section of casing above the earth is removed and the bearing cap dropped down into position and securely bolted to that portion of the casing extending a short distance above the earth and the pulling process is continued.

The apparatus is and can be used further for a stopping medium to prevent the casing from falling into the earth beyond control when the lower end of the casing in the sinking process strikes quick sand or an open cave under the earths surface. In this case the apparatus above described serves as a stopping medium to prevent the loss of such casing under the earths surface.

lished when the lower end of a casing strikes hard rock or other strata under the earths surface which requires cutting out bed rock to secure a spread footing beyond the outside periphery of the casing, thus holding the casing in position from further dropping into the earth until such excavation has been made, and replaced with concrete, masonry or other foundation materials and properly sealed.

A further use for this apparatus is established when natural or mechanically applied forces tend to raise the casing out of the earth due to buoyant effect or other natural phenomena. The casing will be held back by the stopping force applied by this device.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of sinking a caisson including applying a downward pulling force on the caisson.

between the platform and caisson during the sinking operation.

- THOMAS L. GREEN.

A further use for this apparatus can be estab- 

